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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Karlie Leif
Jade Jensen

Volleyball

Yellowjackets Overcome Slow Start, Tame Lions

Karlie Leif led the Yellowjackets with 21 digs Tuesday against Finlandia.
Box Score

Yellowjackets 3, Finlandia 1

The past week hasn't been kind to the Yellowjacket volleyball team. A 1-4 record since sweeping through the Finlandia tournament had the Yellowjackets reeling as they entered play Tuesday night, when they hosted Finlandia at Mertz Mortorelli Gym. And early indications were that the struggles would continue.

The Yellowjackets fell behind early, came back to tie the set then fell behind for good, dropping the opening frame before roaring back to defeat the Lions 3-1.

Finlandia took the early lead in the opening set before the Yellowjackets came back and tied it at 7-7. The Lions regained the lead and with the help of four Yellowjacket errors won the next seven points to pull away. The Yellowjackets never got closer than five the rest of the way and Finlandia took the opening set 25-16.

In the second set the Yellowjackets got back on track but still had trouble getting any separation from the Lions. With the Yellowjackets on a roll and leading 12-7, Finlandia called a timeout and whatever was said in the huddle worked. The Lions went on a 6-1 run to take a 15-13 lead. The Yellowjackets came back and evened the set at 16-16 before three straight attack errors by Finlandia put them in the lead for good. Finlandia pulled back to within two at 20-18, but in the end the Yellowjackets were able to finish them off, winning the set 25-19 and evening the match at 1-1.

The Yellowjackets had an attack percentage of .107 in the first set and .200 in the second set. In the third set they attacked at a clip of .333, and consequently they were able to dispatch the Lions with less drama. The Yellowjackets jumped ahead early and eventually opened up a double-digit edge at 14-4. The lead peaked at 12, sunk back down to 10 then went back to 12 when a kill by Leah Nightingale (Dayton, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) ended the set, 25-13.

The fourth set featured the best volleyball the Yellowjackets have played in more than a week. With confidence building on every point, the Yellowjackets took it to the Lions as the set wore on, but the start of was anything but ideal. Finlandia won the first four points, but the Yellowjackets rallied and tied the set at 5-5. The Yellowjackets then went on a 9-2 run to pull away. Finlandia would win just two more points the rest of the way and the Yellowjackets cruised, taking the set 25-9 and the match 3-1.

Stephanie Bandelin (Esko, Minn./Esko) took the team on her back offensively, pacing the Yellowjackets with 17 kills. Bailey Romans (Duluth, Minn./East) added seven kills and had an attack percentage of .400 while Anna Hendrix (Crystal, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper) had six kills and an attack percentage of .500. As a team the Yellowjackets had 43 assists, with 42 coming courtesy of Emily VerWay (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley). Mackenzie Dahlin (Kaukauna, Wis./Kaukauna) had five of the 10 Yellowjacket service aces.

On defense freshman Karlie Leif (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) had a team-high 21 digs. Dahlin added nine for the Yellowjackets, who had 54 in the match. On defense Hendrix had three blocks.

Finlandia got 9 kills from Devin Bristley, who also led the team with 12 digs.

The Yellowjackets (9-6, 0-0 UMAC) will open conference play Saturday, September 26 when they host Martin Luther College. Game time from Mertz Mortorelli Gym is set for 3:00 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Stephanie Bandelin

#16 Stephanie Bandelin

OH
6' 0"
Senior
Mackenzie Dahlin

#12 Mackenzie Dahlin

DS
5' 7"
Sophomore
Anna Hendrix

#21 Anna Hendrix

MH
5' 10"
Sophomore
Leah Nightingale

#22 Leah Nightingale

OH
5' 9"
Sophomore
Emily VerWay

#1 Emily VerWay

S
5' 7"
Freshman
Karlie Leif

#3 Karlie Leif

DS
5' 6"
Freshman
Bailey Romans

#11 Bailey Romans

RSH
6' 4"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Stephanie Bandelin

#16 Stephanie Bandelin

6' 0"
Senior
OH
Mackenzie Dahlin

#12 Mackenzie Dahlin

5' 7"
Sophomore
DS
Anna Hendrix

#21 Anna Hendrix

5' 10"
Sophomore
MH
Leah Nightingale

#22 Leah Nightingale

5' 9"
Sophomore
OH
Emily VerWay

#1 Emily VerWay

5' 7"
Freshman
S
Karlie Leif

#3 Karlie Leif

5' 6"
Freshman
DS
Bailey Romans

#11 Bailey Romans

6' 4"
Freshman
RSH